Reds Captain Alfie Mawson faced the press this morning ahead of tomorrow's Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash with Yorkshire rivals Bradford City.
Mawson was keen to ensure heads didn’t drop after the weekend’s defeat and said that he was disappointed to lose but the squad are in transition.
“It’s a transition between boys to men,” Mawson said. “We’re getting there, I’m still young myself but we are all maturing as a side. We’ve all got a good relationship on and off the pitch and everyone has respect for each other.”
The Reds sit three points off a League One play-off place and the Reds skipper believes that has to be their aim to get into the top six.
“The top six is definitely a realistic target," he added. "This year the league is wide open and the top six is forever changing. I think that will happen all season so it is there for the taking, we have to be positive.”
After being asked about whether he would look at the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy differently, Mawson was quick to state he would be approaching it as he would any other match.
“It’s no different,” Mawson explained. “I don’t look at any game differently, even if it’s a training game. I want to go out there to get better and to win, I want to beat them. It could be a day out at Wembley and that’s what football is about, the days you can talk about when your career is finished.
“It’s something we can lift and I’m going to do all I can to get my hands on it, as will the boys.”
Alfie’s final words were about Head Coach Lee Johnson and the influence he is having on the squad.
“His attention to detail is ridiculous!” Mawson joked. “He tells me little things that wouldn’t even cross my mind. I go home and watch football and look for these things.
“We’re going the right way as a Club. There might be a few hiccups on the way but as long as we listen to the gaffer and the coaching staff we’ll be fine.”
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